Great China Embracing the Kingdoms under Heaven

Description

This rare Chinese map of the world is an important example of Chinese cartography from the early 19th century. The map is a hand-colored wood-block print, first published in Beijing by Zhu Xiling. China is at the center of the map, which shows the Great Wall, Lop Nur Desert, provincial divisions, provincial and regional capitals, military outposts, local settlements, and the main waterways and rivers. Hainan, Taiwan, Java Island, Brunei, Johore, Vietnam, and Cambodia are delineated. America and other Western countries are represented as an array of amorphous and inconsequential islands bordering the main landmass. The map also shows “Eluosi guo,” or “Russia Country;” “Yingjili guo jie,” or “England Border;” and “Helan guo,” or “Holland Country.” The Indian Ocean is described as the “Small Western Ocean.” The map was given to the American Geographical Society of New York in 1884 by George C. Foulk and bears his annotations.